The installation of the first board of the National Top Campus and Science Park Organisations Foundation (Stichting NCO) in October 2025 marks an important milestone in the collaboration between the Netherlands’ leading campuses and science parks. With this new structure, cooperation is now firmly anchored and ready to deliver on the shared ambitions heading into 2026.

Edward van der Meer, Chair of the NCO: “The growth and attractiveness of campuses are clearly visible and generate both economic and societal impact. By working together, we create a flywheel for responsible, national growth. The establishment of this foundation provides a solid and future-proof basis for our collective ambitions.”

Board

The board consists of representatives from three mature campuses: Jan Henk van der Velden (Director, Utrecht Science Park), Esther Peters (Director, Leiden Bio Science Park) and Edward van der Meer (Director, Campus Groningen). Together, they are steering towards 2026 with the aim of further strengthening and showcasing the collective power of the Dutch campuses, enhancing innovation, collaboration, and societal impact.

Campuses as Engines for Growth and Innovation

The establishment of the foundation follows the research report (December 2024) by Buck Consultants International (BCI), which once again confirms the importance of Dutch campuses and science parks. Campuses prove essential for employment growth and new business activity, and they play a key role in accelerating major societal transitions such as sustainability, digitalisation, and health.

A Strong Network of Innovation Ecosystems

The Netherlands currently hosts 13 mature campuses and science parks (BCI 2024), including Campus Groningen, High Tech Campus Eindhoven, Leiden Bio Science Park, Utrecht Science Park, and Wageningen Campus. Together, they form a powerful network where companies, startups, knowledge institutions, and governments come together to accelerate innovation.

These campuses serve as breeding grounds for talent, capital, and entrepreneurship. They attract startups, support their growth into scale-ups, and contribute to an attractive business climate for knowledge-intensive companies.

Building the Future Together

With the establishment of the NCO Foundation, the collaboration between the top campuses now rests on a solid foundation. In the coming years, the foundation will focus on four key pillars:

• placing talent at the centre and stimulating knowledge exchange,

• accelerating innovation through collaboration,

• creating impact on a national scale,

• strengthening the international position of the Netherlands as a knowledge and innovation nation.

“Campuses are the international calling card of the Netherlands for successful innovation,” concludes Van der Meer. “By further strengthening our cooperation, we contribute to a future-proof and attractive climate for companies, talent, and knowledge.”

Source text: Campus Groningen
Image: Board of the NCO Foundation. From left to right: Utrecht Science Park (Director Jan Henk van der Velden), Leiden Bio Science Park (Director Esther Peters), and Campus Groningen (Director Edward van der Meer).